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By Zay Jeffries

EACH generation accepts the developments of the preceding generations without full appreciation of the difficulties that had to be overcome or of the effect of any given development on society. Today, the production of pig iron is the yardstick with which general industrial health and progress are measured. So natural and logical does this seem to us, that it is difficult to picture conditions prior to the fourteenth century when pig iron was unknown. Not only was pig iron unknown but iron or steel could not be melted and poured into castings; all iron and steel articles were forged from sponge iron. All castings, as well as many worked articles, were made of non-ferrous metals or alloys. In many parts of the world, over long periods of time, not only was the annual exchange value of non-ferrous metals greater than that of iron and steel, but their combined tonnage was greater. At present, the value of the pig iron produced in a year is of the same order of magnitude as that of all non-ferrous metals combined; the tonnage of pig iron is, however, about twenty times that of all non-ferrous metals combined. Owing to lack of records, we will probably never know the relative importance of the various metals at all periods in historic times. A certain conclusion is that the iron and steel industry, since the discovery of pig iron and the cheap methods of converting it into steel, has grown at a much more rapid rate than the non-ferrous metal industries. Notwith-standing their fundamental fitness for man's needs, iron and steel owe their importance in no small degree to the low cost of production. The low cost was a result of increased knowledge of the production appliances and of the metallurgical processes. This increased knowledge is the key to our modern industrial civilization.

Jan 5, 1924

By Jennifer Pell

Dunsmuir Ventures? Nanuq diamond project is located approximately 250 km northeast of Baker Lake and 170 km north of Chesterfield Inlet. It occurs at the intersection of the Wager Bay shear zone with the Keewatin Arch, a major long-lived crustal uplift. The newly discovered diamondiferous kimberlites at Rankin Inlet, Repulse Bay and on Melville Peninsula also occur along this arch. Kimberlite indicator mineral (KIM) sampling has outlined a distinct KIM train more than 35 km long and 6 km wide. Geomorphological studies, boulder displacements and dispersion of magnetite in tills suggest that glacial transport distances were on the order of 4 to 6 kms only. The presence of multiple sources within the main Nanuq indicator train would account for its length and breadth. A second train has been located on the west central part of the property and anomalous concentrations of KIM occur elsewhere. Pyrope garnets (G9?s and G10?s), diamond inclusion field (DI) eclogitic garnets and DI chromites were confirmed by microprobe analyses. Clinopyroxene thermobarometry indicates a cool geotherm, approximately 35 mW/m2, and that mantle within the diamond stability field was tapped. An aeromagnetic survey has identified a number of anomalies. Those with down ice KIM support will have ground geophysical follow-up and will be tested in a spring 2004 drill program. Dunsmuir is optimistic that this will lead to the discovery of a new kimberlite cluster on the Nanuq property.

May 1, 2004

By E. S. Leaver

THE presence of soluble base metals in precious-metal ores usually precludes cyanidation as the best method of treatment. The laboratory experiments described in this paper show the possibility of cyanidation of gold-silver ores containing less than 0.5 per cent. of cyanide-soluble copper and the effect of zinc in the cyanide solution. PART 1.-COPPER IN CYANIDATION The proposed process of cyanidation of precious-metal ores containing copper is based on the regeneration of about 80 per cent. of the cyanide used in the dissolution of the copper. The method of regeneration involves a combination of the sulfide and the acid precipitation of the copper and silver. The resultant solution is made alkaline with lime, and the gold is precipitated with zinc dust.

Jan 1, 1929

By Charles Will Wright

DESPITE the war, the First Pan American Mining Congress, held in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 15-23, was attended by about 300 persons including the official delegates from sixteen of the American republics. The United States delegation consisted of Elmer Pehrson, of the U. S. Bureau of Mines; D. F. Hewett, of the U. S. Geological Survey; William H. Hobbs, of the Carnegie Foundation; and C. W. Wright, delegate of the Board of Economic Warfare and of the A.I.M.E. Mr. Wright was elected to head the delegation. Among the other members were Edward Steidle, of Pennsylvania State College and also an official A.I.M.E. delegate; John Huttl, of Engineering and Mining Journal; W. 0. Vanderburg, foreign mineral specialist from Lima, Peru; O. B. Hundley, of the American Cyanamid Co.; Horace Graham, of the Anglo-Chilean Nitrate Co.; and several officials and engineers from the Anaconda, Kennecott, and Bethlehem Steel companies' mines in Chile.

Jan 1, 1942

By Bora Derin

The partial pressure ratios of sulfur and oxygen for several copper flash smelting plants were derived using the Reddy-Blander (RB) model and predicted dissolved sulfur contents available in the literature. The sulfide capacities (Cs) of six different flash smelting plants (FeO-CuO0.5- CaO-MgO-FeOwAIOl.s?SiO2) slags were calculated. The log (Po2/PS2) versus matte grades of various industrial processes was determined. The PoiPS2 ratio increased with an increase of copper grade. The calculated partial pressure ratios for the copper flash smelting are in good agreement with those of the experimental data.

Jan 1, 2003

By A. Sampson-Forsythe, P. Morissette, A. R. Punkkinen, D. R. Chinnasane

"The performance of ground support systems under dynamic loading is typically assessed in a qualitative and subjective manner. As a result, it is difficult to develop an explicit knowledge on the mechanisms of action and interaction of support elements subjected to rockbursts. This paper examines rockbursts that have occurred at Creighton, Copper Cliff, and Coleman mines since 2000, 2004, and 2006, respectively. The mines are located in the Sudbury Basin, in Ontario, Canada. The majority of pertinent information was obtained through on-site field assessments, seismic system records, and numerical elastic stress modelling. Passive monitoring is used to link the evolution of the frequency and severity of rockbursts to the evolution of mining and support practice at the three mine sites. Based on the collected data, ground support elements that enhanced the capacity of support systems to withstand dynamic loads are identified. IntroductionThe selection of appropriate mining methods, extraction sequences, rock mass de-stressing techniques, and ground support systems is of great importance in mitigating the level of rockburst-related risk. In burst-prone conditions, the design of support systems should account for the anticipated dynamic load demand and the capacity of the available support options. Furthermore, an economical design should, implicitly or explicitly, take into consideration the consequences of a rockburst and its impact on worker safety and mine productivity. Stacey (2012) has argued that we have a limited understanding of the mechanisms of rock mass behaviour in seismic conditions. This is compounded by a ‘lack of understanding of the mechanisms of action and interaction of support elements under dynamic loads’ (Stacey, 2012). Consequently, the design of support systems required to manage dynamic loads is usually based on experience. The assessment of the dynamic performance of ground support systems is typically subjected to qualitative (and sometimes subjective) interpretations from ground control personnel."

Jan 1, 2017

By N. B. Davis

I. Introduction. II. Definition of Plasticity. III. Theories of Plasticity. A. Structure of the clay particles. (1) Fineness of grain. (2) Plate structure. (3) Interlocking particles. (4) Sponge structure of particles. B. Presence of hydrous aluminum silicates. C. Molecular attraction between particles. D. Presence of colloidal gelatinous matter. (1) Review of theory of colloids. (a) Suspension colloids. (b) Emulsion colloids. (2) Experiments. IV. The Formation of Clays. A. Residual clays. B. Transported clays. V. Summary. VI. Conclusion. I. IntRodUction While working with a number of very sticky cracking clays from western Canada the writer became interested in a study of the cause of the excessive plasticity. This led to a review of the rather bulky literature on the subject and the finding that plasticity still remains to be satisfactorily explained. Most of these investigations seem to have been carried on solely from the chemical viewpoint, the geologic aspects having been ignored. In nearly every case, the investigators have worked with the higher-grade clays of low to medium plasticity, such as the kaolins, the excessively plastic ones having generally been neglected, partly because of their limited application, yet the author believes that these are

Jan 1, 1915

The Annual General Meeting of the Johannesburg Branch of The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy was held at the Johannesburg Country Club on Tuesday, 21st July, 1992. Big turnout at Lunchtime Lecture The re-introduction of Lunchtime Lectures by the Johannesburg Branch of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy met with resounding success when more than 100 delegates packed the Standard Bank auditorium in Simmonds Street to hear Dr Zach de Beer, leader of the Democratic Party, give his views on the state of the nation.

Jan 1, 1992

By John Birkinbine

An unusually large number of crystals of magnetite obtained in the exploitation of a deposit of magnetic iron-ore of remarkable purity, encouraged the preparation of this paper, and its presentation at this time, that the matter might go on record in the Transactions. To make this record more complete, a preliminary statement is offered concerning the district and locality in which the ore is found. To the northeastern portion of the State of New York the United States is indebted for a large percentage of the iron-ore which has assisted in developing the resources and industries of the nation. As early as 1804, iron-ore was mined between Lake Champlain and the Adirondack mountains, and this district has since been an important and continuous contributor to our iron-ore supply. The production of the Lake Champlain district for the last, eleven years is as follows: Years. Gross tons. 1879,...........420,341 1880,...........531,000 1881,...........637,000 1882,...........675,000 1883,...........500,000 1884,...........504,894 1885,...........379,077 1886,...........588,752 1887,...........768,852 1888,...........789,419 1889,...........750,230 Approximate total,.....6,644,565

Jan 1, 1890

By M. J. Mullikin, J. B. Conway

for use in describing combined first- and second-stage creep data. In the above ?o represents the instantaneous strain on loading, ?t the limit of transient creep, ?S the steady-state creep rate, t the time, and ? a constant leading to the exhaustion rate of transient creep. It was noted that this equation was similar in form to that proposed originally2 by McVetty. This type of equation was also suggested by Andrade and Aboav3 in studies of the shear strain of cadmium. Calculation of the constants ?o, ?t, ?, and ?s, in Eq. [ l] is somewhat involved due to the slight complexity of this relationship. In the paper by Garofalo a computer approach based on a least-squares analysis was recommended. Such an approach involves a trial and error solution but when a computer facility is available the difficulties in this calculation are of little consequence. It does mean however that the evaluation of this type of equation would become quite tedious if computer facilities were not available. Some recent studies have identified a fairly straightforward method for calculating the constants in the Garofalo equation. While not leading to a least-squares evaluation the approach is accurate and is recom-

Jan 1, 1967

By R. J. Davidson

The chemistry related to the adsorption of gold, uranium, and transition-metal ions onto algal biomass (activated carbon) is related to the genesis of the Witwatersrand. Detrital gold being washed into the early basin, together with cyanide generated in the atmosphere, would have solubilized as the stable aurocyanide complex, the necessary oxygen being produced from the photosynthesis of carbon dioxide by primitive algae. Pebble-type conglomerates, while providing for the free movement of solutions containing the vital nutrients for prolific algal growth, would have screened of the sunlight, which would otherwise have degraded any free cyanide in solution. With the subsequent decomposition of the algal deposits, it is surmised that carbon-rich layers having adsorptive properties similar to those of activated carbon formed in the conglomerates. Under these conditions, gold (silver) in solution would have been adsorbed selectively as the cyanide complex, together with uranium as the carbonate complex. Any transition-metal ions present would also have been adsorbed onto such a substrate. The subsequent burial and compression of the gold-rich conglomerate with temperatures rising to about 400DC would then have reduced the adsorbed gold to the metal in a single segregated gold-silver metal phase (95 to 99 per cent of the contained gold), while leaving behind a sulphide phase rich in iron, base metals, and arsenic and containing some gold and silver. The recrystalization of this later phase may explain the presence of the rather consistent contents of secondary pyrite in the Witwatersrand conglomerates. Similarly, uranium minerals, some rich in titanium and carbon, may also have formed. An adsorption model would explain the very consistent trends in the gold-to-silver ratios of individual reefs in the Witwatersrand, which suggest an extensive hydrothermal system approaching isothermal equilibrium. Also, as gold grades increase, so silver grades generally decrease, indicating the sequential displacement of silver by gold as classically obtained with activated carbon.

Jan 1, 1990

By F. M. Waring

produced when zinc is substituted for a certain amount of tin are decidedly unsatisfactory. The substitution of aluminum for tin is entirely impractical, and such castings are worthless. This does not, however, exhaust all the possibilities of substituting other metals for tin in the copper-tin-lead alloys, but it is my opinion that the substitution of any other metals, in those alloys, can be made only by sacrificing the quality of the alloy. The possibility of substituting alloys of an entirely different type presents an attractive field for research. The copper-tin-lead alloy has attained its position as the most desirable bronze bearing alloy, but this does not mean that some other alloy may not be found which may give equally good or better results. In the search for such a substitute alloy it should be borne in mind that a bearing metal should possess the following properties: (1) It should be sufficiently rigid to support the load or resist the impact, but yet not so brittle that it will easily crack. (2) It should have as great a yielding or plastic nature as is consistent with its ability to support the load or resist the impact without deformation of the bearing as a whole. (3) The ideal structure combines a hard matrix to support the load and a softer metal or alloy contained within such matrix, to permit the bearing surface to adjust itself to irregularities of service. (4) It should be easy to handle in the foundry and machine shop. (5) It should be capable of being remelted without deterioration. (6) For use in babbitt-lined bearings, it should be capable of being tinned, so that the babbitt can be applied thereto. (7) It should have good heat conductivity in order to dissipate the heat generated by friction. Pennsylvania Railroad Anti-friction and Bell Metals F. M. Waring," Altoona, Pa.—Thc necessity for conserving tin has recently been very forcibly brought to the attention of all consumers, and efforts are now being made to reduce the tin content in certain alloys or to substitute other alloys not containing tin. The approximate composition of the non-ferrous alloys in general use on the Pennsylvania Railroad are given in the accompanying table. Phosphor bronze is used principally for rod bushings, main-rod brasses, and crosshead shoes. Ex. B bronze is used to a small extent for backs of car and coach bearings, but the majority of these are now made of the car-journal bronze, which contains, on the average, about 5 per cent. tin.

Jan 1, 1919

By Flavio Moreira Ferreira

In mining industry, one of the simplest methods to smooth the standard deviation of a given ore controlled property is to build longitudinal blending piles. The effect of homogeneization is obtained due to the fact that an entire cross-section of the pile is reclaimed at each time. The variance of the pile output is the sum of the internal cross-section slice variance plus the reclaimed slice variance. While the first term is a tipical short-term parameter and is absorbed by the process, the second one may be or may not be absorbed. The goal of designing blending piles is to minimize the reclaimed slice variance. Conditional Simulation as described in this paper, is an alternative method to do it. It is devised to design longitudinal blending piles, taking into consideration economical, geometrical and statistical parameters of the ore to be blended, in order to estimate the resulting effect. It presents advantages in relation to other methods for its adaptability and flexibility in simulating pile performances.

Jan 1, 1992

By Du Sichen

The present paper presents the modeling of gas-solid reactions in the case of the decomposition of CaCO3, describing the reaction kinetics on the basis of heat-transfer concepts which could be compared with thermogravimetric results. In the case of solid-solid reactions, the present paper describes the model developed for describing solid-solid reactions from dynamic X-ray diffraction technique, developed by the present team. The model has been successful in explaining the formation of spinel from MgO and Al2O3.

Jan 1, 2006

By Deepak Malhotra

Rosario Dominicana, S.A., operates a gold processing complex at Pueblo Viejo, northwest of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). The plant processes approximately 10,000 mtpd of oxide gold-bearing ore with a work index of 11 kWh/mt. The ore hardness has increased to about 17 kWh/mt. Metallurgical auditing of the plant was conducted? to find ways to modify the circuit to process hard ore without sacrificing throughput. In addition, unit operations were optimized to increase recovery and reduce operating cost,. The results of modifications made in the plant are discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 1989

By Cyril Stanley Smith

BETA brass (consisting of approximately equal atomic proportions of copper and zinc) exists as a random solid solution at high temperatures, but at low temperatures [ ] an ordered structure is stable, with the copper and zinc atoms occupying alternate sites on the body-centered-cubic lattice. On cooling, ordering commences at a temperature of 450° to 490°C., depending on the composition. The degree of ordering progressively increases at lower temperatures until it becomes virtually complete at about 100°C. The electrical resistivity of the alloy illustrates the changes clearly (Fig. I). This type of reaction has been a favored subject for study by physicists. An [ ] excellent summary of the theory is to be found in a paper by F. C. Nix and W. Shockley.1 All published data on electrical conductivity, specific heat and other properties agree in indicating that the ordering reaction in beta brass takes place so rapidly that it cannot be prevented or even retarded by quenching. With most ordered alloys, cold-working induces disorder and

Jan 1, 1942

By Cyril Stanley Smith

BETA brass (consisting of approximately equal atomic proportions of copper and zinc) exists as a random solid solution at high temperatures, but at low temperatures [ ] an ordered structure is stable, with the copper and zinc atoms occupying alternate sites on the body-centered-cubic lattice. On cooling, ordering commences at a temperature of 450° to 470°C., depending on the composition. The degree of ordering progressively increases at lower temperatures until it becomes virtually complete at about 100°C. The electrical resistivity of the alloy illustrates the changes clearly (Fig. I). This type of reaction has been a favored subject for study by physicists. An [ ] excellent summary of the theory is to be found in a paper by F. C. Nix and W. Shockley.1 All published data on electrical conductivity, specific heat and other properties agree in indicating that the ordering reaction in beta brass takes place so rapidly that it cannot be prevented or even retarded by quenching. With most ordered alloys, cold-working induces disorder and

Jan 1, 1942

By Cyril Stanley Smith

BeTa brass (consisting of approximately equal atomic proportions of copper and zinc) exists as a random solid solution at high temperatures, hut at low temperature< an ordered structure is stable, with the copper and zinc atoms occupying alternate sites on the body-centered-cubic lattice. On cooling, ordering commences at a temperature of 450° to 470°C., depending on the composition. The degree of ordering progressively increases at lower temperatures until it becomes virtually complete at about 100°C. The electrical resistivity of the alloy illustrates the changes clearly (Fig. I). This type of reaction has been a favored subject for study by physicists. An excellent summary of the theory is to be found in a paper by F. C. Nix and W. Shock1ey.l All published data on electrical conductivity, specific heat and other properties agree in indicating that the ordering reaction in beta brass takes place so rapidly that it cannot be prevented or even retarded by quenching&apos; With most ordered alloys, cold-working induces disorder and

Jan 1, 1943

By Cyril Stanley Smith

BeTa brass (consisting of approximately equal atomic proportions of copper and zinc) exists as a random solid solution at high temperatures, hut at low temperature< an ordered structure is stable, with the copper and zinc atoms occupying alternate sites on the body-centered-cubic lattice. On cooling, ordering commences at a temperature of 450° to 470°C., depending on the composition. The degree of ordering progressively increases at lower temperatures until it becomes virtually complete at about 100°C. The electrical resistivity of the alloy illustrates the changes clearly (Fig. I). This type of reaction has been a favored subject for study by physicists. An excellent summary of the theory is to be found in a paper by F. C. Nix and W. Shock1ey.l All published data on electrical conductivity, specific heat and other properties agree in indicating that the ordering reaction in beta brass takes place so rapidly that it cannot be prevented or even retarded by quenching&apos; With most ordered alloys, cold-working induces disorder and

Jan 1, 1943

By H. J. Meyer

"A hydrostatic elevation difference meter has been developed for use in measuring elevations along gravity traverses. Elevations of stations 100 feet apart can be obtained at a rate of 1/2 mile per hour and to an accuracy better than 1/3 foot. This can be done along traverses which have not been cut and chained. The instrument is durable, lightweight and constructed of materials which will withstand any temperature encountered in field work.It is believed that this device will more than double the rate at which gravity surveys over mining prospects can be carried out."

Jan 1, 1972